In:
eLife, eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd, Vol. 6 ( 2017-06-17)
Abstract:
Single-celled green algae, also known as green microalgae, play an important role for the world’s ecosystems, in part, because they can harness energy from sunlight to produce carbon-rich compounds. Microalgae are also important for biotechnology and people have harnessed them to make food, fuel and medicines. Green microalgae live in many types of habitats from streams to oceans, and they can also be found on the land, including in deserts. Like plants that live in the desert, these microalgae have likely evolved specific traits that allow them to live in these hot and dry regions. Yet, fewer scientists have studied microalgae compared to land plants, and until now it was not well understood how microalgae could survive in the desert. Nelson et al. analyzed green microalgae from different locations around the United Arab Emirates and found that one microalga, known as Chloroidium, is one of the most dominant algae in this area. This included samples from beaches, mangroves, desert oases, buildings and public fresh water sources. Chloroidium has a unique set of genes and proteins and grew particularly well in freshwater and saltwater. Rather than just harnessing sunlight, the microalgae were able to consume over 40 different varieties of carbon sources to produce energy. The microalgae also accumulated oily molecules with a similar composition to palm oil, which may help this species to survive in desert regions. A next step will be to develop biotechnological assets based on the information obtained. In the future, microalgae could be used to make an oil that represents an alternative to palm oil; this would reduce the demand for palm tree plantations, which pose a major threat to the natural environment. Moreover, understanding how microalgae can colonize a desert region will help us to understand the effects of climate change in the region.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2050-084X
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.001
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.002
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.003
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.004
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.005
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.006
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.007
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.008
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.009
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.010
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.011
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.012
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.013
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.014
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.015
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.016
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.017
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.018
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.019
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.020
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.021
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.022
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.023
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.024
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.025
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.026
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.027
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.030
DOI:
10.7554/eLife.25783.031
Language:
English
Publisher:
eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd
Publication Date:
2017
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2687154-3
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